In this Issue:

Insect Pest Overview-2003

Harvesting and Storing Pumpkins

Biotech Foods Found to be Safe

2003 Snap Bean Insecticide Results

GAO Report: Biotech Foods as Safe as Conventional Foods

Reprinted from: Crop BioTech Update Newsletter, and the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology

The General Accounting Office of the U.S. government has released a report concluding that foods produced using biotechnology are as safe as conventional foods. It stated that there is no scientific evidence that they would cause long-term health risks to consumers.

The report entitled: Genetically Modified Foods: Experts View Regimen of Safety Tests as Adequate, but FDA's Evaluation Process Could Be Enhanced notes that foods from GM plants pose three types of risk to human health: they can potentially contain allergens, toxins, or antinutrients. These risks are not unique to GM foods. People have consumed foods containing allergens, toxins and antinutrients throughout history.

In addition, suggestions were made to improve the process being followed by the US Food and Drug Administration to evaluate new biotech foods. The FDA, according to the report, should enhance its oversight role in two ways. One is to randomly verify the raw data companies provide about new products since the agency currently reviews summaries of that data. The second is to improve its system of informing the public about its evaluation process and the scientific rationale behind its decisions.

The full report can be viewed at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02566.pdf.

A news item on the report is available at http://www.whybiotech.com/index.asp?id=2098.

Co-Editors: Bill Hutchison, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, hutch002@tc.umn.edu
Jeanne Ciborowski, IPM Program, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us
Production Editor: Suzanne Wold Burkness, Research Fellow, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, woldx018@tc.umn.edu

Last Revised October 9, 2003.
The University, including the Minnesota Extension Service, is an equal opportunity educator and employer. ©1999-2003 Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Contact copyright@extension.umn.edu for information on reproduction or use of this material.